Ka`u News Briefs Nov. 4, 2012

Ka`u has more government-owned land than any other district in Hawai`i. The new state Public Lands Development Corp. is aiming to partner with private enterprise to use state land for economic development and to bolster state revenues. The state land is shown in light green. Federal land is in blue. Map from state Office of Planning, Hawai`i Statewide GIS Program

A PUBLIC LANDS DEVELOPMENT CORP. HEARING on new operating rules for the state agency is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 13 at the state Department of Land & Natural Resources boardroom in Honolulu. Should a large crowd be expected, the hearing may be moved to the auditorium of the state Capitol, and a video feed may be provided for neighbor island testimony.

      No hearings are set for the neighbor islands, though hearings around the state this summer drew many protests calling for abolishing the PLDC. The Hawai`i County Council, along with Maui and Kaua`i’s County Councils, recently passed ordinances opposing the PLDC. Most Volcano and Ka`u candidates running for office in the election this Tuesday, Nov. 6, have expressed opposition or deep concern about the PLDC.

Opposition at public hearings this summer led to this banner
 for a rally in October.From islandbreath.blogspot.com

The public notice for the PLDC hearing says the proposed action will establish operating procedures for the PLDC. “It contains general provisions relating to the office location and hours, board meetings, and delegation of authority to the Executive Director; and sets forth procedures for proceedings before the board, contested case hearings, declaratory rulings, and petition for amendment, adoption, or repeal of administrative rules.
      “Proposed adoption of a new Chapter 13-302, HAR, Public Land Development Program sets forth a procedure for the Corporation to initiate, by itself or with qualified persons, or enter into cooperative agreements with qualified persons for the development or financing of projects that make optimal use of public land for the economic, environmental, and social benefit of the people of Hawai`i.”

THERE ARE KA`U CONNECTIONS with the Public Land Development Corp. According to a recent Civil Beat story, Gov. Neil Abercrombie supports the PLDC, which will allow state lands to be used for economic development. The Sophie Cocke story reports the governor recently enlisting Bill Kaneko, his campaign manager for the 2010 election, to help with PLDC rulemaking and the message to the public.
       Kaneko is connected to future land use in Ka`u through `Aina Koa Pono, the company proposing to establish a biofuel farm on 13,000 acres between Pahala and Na`alehu and a refinery near Wood Valley Road. The proposal would raise electric bills on O`ahu and Hawai`i Island and is up for decision-making before the state Public Utilities Commission.

Bill Kaneko Photo from lawyers.com

      Kaneko was listed throughout 2011 and during the first quarter of this year as the registered lobbyist for `Aina Koa Pono.  Hawai`i State Ethics Commission contribution reports filed by `Aina Koa Pono chair Kenton Eldridge and former chair Melvin Chigioji show that `Aina Koa Pono paid the law firm in Honolulu where Kaneko works, Alston, Hunt, Floyd & Ing, a total of $63,373.50 during 2012 to lobby the Legislature for the `Aina Koa Pono project. The documents filed with the ethics commission define the lobbying as being related to “Ecology, Energy, Environmental Protection.”
      Kaneko recently became one of the directors of the Alston, Hunt, Floyd & Ing law firm. Another PLDC connection with Ka`u is PLDC director, Duane Kurisu, owner of Punalu`u Bakeshop and land in Wood Valley. Another PLDC director is Richard Lim, director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, a founding partner and currently listed as an advisor to Sennet Capital, which lists `Aina Koa Pono as one of its Transactions on its website at http://sennetcapital.com.

VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS JOINED Hawai`i County Fire Department and Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park personnel on the ground and in helicopters to battle a blaze that began Friday afternoon at Keauhou ranch near Keauhou Bird Conservation Center. Hawai`i 24/7 reports that at nightfall on Friday, crews had the fire 80 percent contained and 95 percent contained by midnight with at least four acres burned. The cause has not been determined. See more at www.hawaii247.com.

Image from contractforthefuture.org

CONTRACTFORTHEFUTURE.ORG is Hawai`i State Teachers Associations new website focusing on the union’s 16-month-long labor dispute with the state. HSTA accuses Gov. Neil Abercrombie of violating collective bargaining rights when “he unilaterally imposed a new contract last year,” according to the website. The website includes a timeline of events from HSTA filing a lawsuit “to protect Constitutional rights to bargain” in July 2011 to last month, when HSTA ended what the website refers to as “meaningless mediation with the governor.” Hawai`i’s teachers are seeking the restoration of what the union calls “the status quo of salaries and health care premium costs that were in place in June 30, 2011.” 

      Another summary of events, from the state’s perspective, is available at hawaii.gov/gov/faq/our-public-school-teachers-and-hsta.html.
      On its calendar page, the website lists “Election Day Sign Waving for our Teacher Contract” to take place Tuesday, Nov. 6.
      Another page, entitled “How You Can Help,” has fields to fill out to send a message to Gov. Abercrombie.
      A meeting of the two sides on the state’s proposed two-year contract is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 14.

After a night's rest in Pahala, Nate Stanis began the next leg of her journey
 on foot at 6 a.m. Photo from runningongreens.blogspot.com.

NATE STANIS HAS COMPLETED her run around Hawai`i Island in support of People’s Advocacy for Trails Hawai`i and Hawai`i Conservation Alliance. Her stops included Kilauea Lodge, Pahala Plantation Cottages, Punalu`u Bakeshop and a friend’s house in Ocean View. She averaged 20 to 30 miles each day on public roads. “Seeing Hawai`i on foot this way has been spectacular, challenging and eye opening. I am thankful to spread love of Hawai`i lands and the importance of trails and paths,” she says on her blog, runningongreens.blogspot.com. Stanis plans to share her experiences and raise more money for PATH and Hawai`i Conservation Alliance at an event to be announced. 

      Information about PATH is available at pathhawaii.org. For Hawai`i Conservation Alliance, visit hawaiiconservation.org.

MISS ALOHA HAWAI`I 2012, Brandy Shibuya, crowned her successor at Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa yesterday. In her closing comments, she said, “To my `ohana, thank you for the love and laughter throughout the years. To my supporters, thank you for all your faith and belief in my dream. To the next Miss Aloha Hawai`i, make your dreams come true.”
      Shibuya continues her reign as Miss Ka`u Coffee until the upcoming pageant.

Brandy Shibuya danced her final hula as
Miss Aloha Hawai`i yesterday.

ELECTION DAY IS THIS TUESDAY, Nov. 6. Polling places at Cooper Center on Wright Road in Volcano Village, Ka`u High School Cafeteria, Na`alehu School Cafeteria and Ocean View Community Center are open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 961-8277 for more information.

A VETERANS DAY CONCERT will be held this Saturday, Nov. 10, featuring Keoki and Moses Kahumoku, John and Hope Keawe, Sonny Lim, Diana Aki, James Hill, Bolo, Andy Andrews, Darci Baker, Anne Davison, Lopaka Naihe, Robert Kennedy, Peter DeAquino and Andy Rising. The concert is free from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grounds of Pahala Plantation House.

VISIT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.